Serialographic attachment for X-ray examination tables



y 1954 H. E. KOERNER EIAL SERIALOGRAPHIC ATTACHMENT FOR X-RAYEXAMINATION TA Filed Dec. 2, 1952 wmwssss:

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VENTORS Harry E. Koerner 8| Robert J. Wagner.

ORNEY Patented May 25, 1954 SERIALOGRAPHIC ATTACHMENT FOR X-RAYEXAMINATION TABLES Harry E. Koerner and Robert J.

more, Md., assignors to Corporation, East Pitts tion of Pennsylvaniaburgh,

Wagner, Balti- Westinghouse Electric Pa., a corpora- ApplicationDecember 2, 1952, Serial No. 323,649

2 Claims. (Cl. 311-42) Our invention relates to X-ray examination tablesand in particular relates to a pivoted support by which a fluorescentscreen or spot-film may be moved in and out of table top when it isdesired to graphic to fluoroscopic or other uses of the table.

In current practice in X-ray examinations, the patient is usuallysupported usually tiltable through a wide range of angles relative tothe horizontal, make fluoroscopic or spot-film examinations, and also tomake radiographic pictures. In the former, a screen on which the imageappears is positioned parallel to and above the table, while in thelatter case the X-ray tube is positioned in the space above the table.It is accordingly necessary to provide a frame for holdin thefluoroscopic screen and spot-film device above the table in the formercase, but which may be moved out of the way of the X-ray tube whenradiographs are to be taken.

One object of our invention is accordingly to being made.

Another object of our invention is to provide the distance of the X-raytube or view-screen from the X-ray table is adjustable by the operator,such mechanism operating to hold the screen parallel to the table andthen to move it out-of-the-way when radiographs are to be taken, withoutinterference from such adjustments by the operator.

Another object is to provide a mechanism capable of performing theabove-mentioned functions in which the weights of the moving parts arecounterbalanced so that all changes may be carried out by the operatorwithout substantial exertion.

provide a new and improved type of medical X-ray apparatus.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

and is equipped tov perspective of the mechawith the screen-supportframe positioned parallel to the X-ray table in position for afluoroscopic examination,

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the frame parked in its out-of-the-wayposition while a radiography is in progress.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the X-ray table i is supported inconventional fashion on a base (not shown) on which it may be tiltedthrough angles up to degrees to the horizontal. The U. S. Patent2,504,687 to O. C. Hollstein may be referred to if more detailedinformation as to such an X-ray table support is desired. The

Figure l is a view in stands always perpendicular to table I. tower iswell known in X-ray table practice and its connections to table I willaccordingly not be described here other than to note that it may bemoved lengthwise or crosswise of table I to any desired position withintravel limits. The thus, in accordance with present X-ray practice,adjust the position of tower 4 along or across table I and adjust theposition of carriage 3 in the directions perpendicular thereto.

The frame 2 is pivotally supported by two yoke arms 5 at its oppositeedges, the arms 5 being supported in turn on axle 6 which passes throughjournals in the end-walls of carriage 3. The inner end of frame 2 isheld by a lock 2A to the front side of carriage 3 when the arms 5 areturned to the Fig. 1 position in which frame 2 is parallel to table I,and when unlocked can slide downward in contact with said front side.

An arm 7 is attached to the end of arm 5 inside the carriage 3 ing agrooved rim may run. A grooved idler-pulley II is supported on a bearingon the end-walls of carriage 3. The cable 9 having one end fastened atl2 to the wall of carriage 3 runs under idler 8, over idler I I, downthrough the bottom of carriage 3, under a grooved idler pulley 13supported on bearings from the side wall of tower 4, through that sidewall around another grooved idler-pulley l4 and vertically upward to aspring I 5 attached to counterweight IS. A second cable l1 attached tothe top of counterweight l6 passes over idler pulleys l8 and 19 at thetop of tower 4, then downward around a pulley 21 having bearings affixedto carriage 3, and out through the wall of the latter to a collar on thepivot which interconnects frame 2 to support arm 5.

When the operator adjusts the height of the its other end journalledabout one of the pivots at said second horizontal axis, and a secondcable fastened to said counterweight and passing over a thirdidler-pulley journalled to said tower near fluorescent screen in frame 2above the table l, it lower end, then over a fourth idler-pulley thecarriage 3 slides on tower 4 but the cables 9 and I! move thecounterweight it in the opposite direction, and its weight is of suchvalue as to approximately balance that of carriage 3 and journalled topulley journa end of sai 2. In comb said carriage, then over a fifthidlerlled on one of said yoke-arms, the d cable being fastened to saidcarriage. ination with an X-ray examination the parts attached to it, sothat only a Sli h force table, a tower supported perpendicular to saidneed be exerted in making this adjustment.

When the operator wishes to have the frame 2 removed to itsout-of-the-way position as shown in Fig. 2, he releases the lock 2A andthe tension table at one side thereof, a carriage movable along saidtower, a pair of yoke-arms journalled on a first horizontal axis to thewalls of said carriage, a frame pivoted to said yoke-arms on exerted bycounterweight 16 through cable i1 a second horizontal axis which ishigher than said moves the outer ends of arms 5 upward folding the frame2 back against the face of carriage 3 into a perpendicular position totable I as shown in Fig. 2. The idler 8 on arm I is moved when end ofsaid terweight w a1 axis, means to releasably lock the frame to hold ithorizontal, a counithin said tower free to move longitudinally withrespect to said tower, a first cable arm 5 films, to take p the Slack incable 9 Which fixed at one end to said counterweight and passresultsfrom the slight lowering of counterweight l6 incident to this change inthe position of frame 2. Spring l5 helps to maintain a constant tensionon the cables 9 and I1 to insure that they ing over a first idler pulleyjournalled to said tower near the center of the upper end, then passingover a second idler pulley journalled to said tower near an edge of theupper end, then never slip out of the grooves in the pulleys overpassing over a third idler pulle journalled on which they run. The lockportion at 2A slides downward in a groove in the face of carriage 3.

In the following claims the term horizontal merely means parallel to thetable face which said carriage closer to a horizontal plane passingthrough said second horizontal axis than is said first horizontal axis,said cable having its other end journalled about one of the pivots atlies against the patients y, and up, down 30 said second horizontalaxis, and a second cable and such words merely mean directionsperpendicular to that face.

We claim as our invention: 1. In combination with an X-ray examinationfastened to said counterweight and passing over a fourth idler pulleyjournalled to said tower near the center of the lower end, then over afifth idler pulley journalled to said tower near an edge table, a towersupported perpendicular to said of the lower end, then over a sixthidler pulley table at one side thereof, a carriage movable up and downsaid tower, a pair of yoke-arms journalled on a first horizontal axis inthe walls of said carriage, a frame pivoted to said yoke-arms on asecond horizontal axis which is higher than said first horizontal axis,means to releasably lock the end of said frame to hold it horizontal, a

counterweight within said tower free to move up plane passing throughsaid second horizontal axis than is said first horizontal axis, saidcable having journalled to idler pulley journalled on one of saidyoke-arms, the end of said second cable being fastened to said carriage.

said carriage, then over a seventh References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Humphreys Sept. 10, 1929 PohlOct. 31, 1939 Swaisgood Dec. 22, 1942 Grobe Apr. 6, 1943 Mueller et alMay 15, 1951

